Their story is documented in 100,000 images and 150 hours of video. This significant archive also contains flyers, posters, press releases, contracts, artwork, plans, and designs. The collection is contributing to 6 books about the Fridge nightclub, a space that entertained our community with the most popular gay club nights of the day. What makes the Fridge’s success all the more interesting is that Brixton in the 1980s was the most unlikely of LGBTQ destinations!
We spoke to Andrew and Susan, just as their night Love Muscle xx – the legendary, multi-award-winning #1 gay clubbing event of the 90s – is about to storm into Electric Brixton for the Love Muscle xx Birthday celebration on Saturday, 8 November 2025, 11pm – 6am.
Let’s start at the beginning—what inspired you to open The Fridge, and why Brixton?
The inspiration was a continuation of our first club, The Roxy, a Punk Rock club in Covent Garden (1976) that only lasted 100 days, but it made such an impact on music that we are still being filmed and interviewed today.
We were thrown out of those premises, but decided we would run another club, but only if we owned it outright. Well, I (Andrew) was brought up in Brixton, and we used to be regulars at what was then called the RamJam at 390 Brixton Road in Brixton. It only held 400 people, so when it came on the market in 1979, we took a lease on it, which ran between December 1981 and October 1984.
It became so successful that we had to move to bigger premises, and luckily, the cinema next to the Town Hall in Brixton came on the market. It had been running as a roller skate disco, so we were lucky to have a perfect dance floor installed. We called it The Fridge and it ran from 1985 to 2010, becoming the most successful club in the UK with a capacity of 2,000.
Why Brixton? Well, why not? Finding suitable premises is not easy, so the same ones tend to show up. This was the right one at the right place at the right time. Brixton is also a terrific hub for transportation and is very densely populated in terms of housing and accommodation.
What are some unforgettable moments from The Fridge’s early days that still resonate with you?
Promoting Bronski Beat, Pet Shop Boys, Sade, Trindy Gonk Aurora show, Buzz Cocks, Amanda Lear, Grace Jones and the unforgettable night Yvette arrived to perform with her two pink poodles, Police Raids were unforgettable.
How did The Fridge help shape LGBTQ+ nightlife in London during the ’80s and ’90s?
We were at the forefront of the gay nightclubbing revolution; we had a very modern, mixed-employment attitude. Gay club life was growing and changing. No longer the USA clones, check shirts, jeans, chaps, etc., but a more urban, British, artistic, and creative fashion crowd who didn’t relate to the old look and wanted to forge their own version of Gay club culture.
What led you to bring Love Muscle xx back after all these years?
We have been extremely busy writing a book on our first club, the Roxy, and we are currently writing the Fridge books, including one on all the gay club nights and acts we promoted: The Oven, Cia Baby, Daisy Chain, Love Muscle xx, Eves Revenge, and Venus Rising. The last two were the biggest women only club nights in the world. Yes, you heard that right, over 1500 women in one club, The Fridge. This had never happened before, or since.
So you see, we didn’t have the time but knew there was a demand as we had so many requests to bring it back, but when we were approached by Simon Hill, Dorian Hardacre, and Alan Davies, we decided to license out the night to them as we knew we could trust them with the legacy. We had been approached many times before, but we did not feel comfortable with any other promoters.
Did you expect the revival to be met with such enthusiasm? Three sell-out events is no small feat!
When considering a promotion, you must assess the low and high turnout. We felt we could achieve at least 700 or so. In the end, we had, I believe, about 950, so yes, a great success and confirmation that another should happen. We are also certain the next one will be huge.
How does today’s clubbing scene compare to the original Love Muscle xx era?
It is hard for us to say, as we no longer promote or visit clubs, but we are certain we were leaders in this field, and so lucky to be in that period of clubbing when it exploded in the 80s and 90s. Which is why there is such a demand for Love Muscle xx.
What do you think LGBTQ+ club spaces need most right now to thrive and stay inclusive?
That’s a hard one to answer, as we are no longer connected to the scene in the way we used to be. Also, the whole clubbing scene, not just gay, has changed so much due to the internet and the way people meet up and share experiences, now online rather than on the dance floor.
You’ve remained local—still living in South London. What does South London mean to you today?
Yes, it may seem strange never moving more than a few miles from where we grew up, Susan is from Walworth Road and myself is from Brixton. Since 1971, we have lived in Streatham. We never felt the pull of anywhere else. At the end of the day, home is where your heart is, and no amount of moving will change that.
What’s next for Love Muscle xx? Are there any dreams or plans you’re excited to share?
We plan to grow it to the full capacity of the old Fridge – 1750 capacity, which we expect to reach very soon. The next step will be to tour it and maybe have some more London dates and festival events.
If you had to describe the spirit of Love Muscle xx in one word, what would it be, and why?
Euphoria – the mix of music, drugs, energy all combining into one Euphoric event of oneness. It really encapsulates the feeling within the walls of the Fridge. So many people have said how they feel upbeat and positive when they walk into this magic space.
The Love Muscle xx Birthday event is on Saturday 8 November 2025, 11pm – 6am (last entry 3pm), at Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RJ, United Kingdom.
The Fridge Books
Andrew Czezowki and Susan Carrington will have their first book out by the end of 2026. The first and main book will be about them and how it all came together similar in style to the ROXY book all chronological, probably about 500 pages. This will be followed by a further five books, mainly photographic on the different genres.
Who Played at The Fridge?
Gay FRIDGE: Pet Shop Boys, Jimmy Somerville Bronski Beat, Sister Sledge, Bananarama, Boney M, Sandie Shaw, Thelma Houston, Jocelyn Brown, Daryl Pandy, DeeLite, Billy Preston, etc.
Black FRIDGE: Soul II Soul, Ice T, Ice Cube, NWA, Public Enemy, etc.
Jazz FRIDGE: Sade, Blue Rondo A La Turk, Jamiroquai, Sun Ra, Galliano, Giles, Peterson, Courtney Pine, etc.
Live FRIDGE: Michael Nyman, Marc Almond, Eartha Kitt, Boy George, Grace Jones, Amanda Lear, King Kurt, Nico, Mick Ronson and Angie Bowie, Communards, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Pete Shelly, Pogues, Joe Strummer, Big Audio Dynamite, Alabama 3, Femi Kuti, Richard Hell, etc
House & Trance/Rave FRIDGE: Fat Boy Slim, Carl Cox, Danny Rampling, Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Afrika Bambaattaa, etc.
Did you know?
Andrew and Susan lay claim to an extensive list of firsts. They were the first to:
- Introduce a female head of security.
- Hold a 24-hour dance & drinks license.
- Have in house paramedics with a dedicated recovery room.
- Have a defibrillator in a nightclub.
- Create the concept of a video lounge in (1981).
- Project images onto the outside of a nightclub (1980).
- First nightclub in the UK to sell Absinth.
- Create & introduce the concept of queue jumping for tickets bought in advance.
- One of the first to have a cut out flyer.
- Produce a 3D flyer.
